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Weddings

Aldo Leopold Nature Center

$3k - $4k For 100 Guests
Availability

Pricing Information

These prices are available for the months of June through October. These prices are available for the months of November through May.
Reception
$5,675 starting price
Ceremony
$5,675 starting price
Reception
$4,175 starting price
Ceremony
$4,175 starting price

About

Rooted in 2021

The roots of our Southern Wisconsin prairies run deep and create black soil ripe for growth. The prairie’s deep roots keep it grounded, thriving through droughts and fires, and coming back brilliantly. There are potentially over 700 species that only call the prairie home. The prairie is unique, survives through hard times, and is firmly rooted in our natural surroundings.

There is no doubt these are tough times, but there is also no doubt that you live in your own prairie. The events and emotions that brought you together run deep, along with the family and friends that are unique to your social circles. No matter what happens when things go wrong, you come back brilliantly because you are rooted in each other and your circle.

At ALNC, we want to celebrate the deep roots that tie you and our community together. Our Rooted Weddings are designed to withstand the flames of the current pandemic, and allow you to establish your personal ecosystem with those who matter most to you.

We have dates available in 2024,
please contact rentals@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org for more information.

More Than Just A Celebration…

Having your wedding at ALNC is more than celebrating together: it’s also a way to support children’s environmental education throughout Dane County. Because of this, we absolutely love people that get married with us. You are supporting our mission, so we want to support you as much as possible. We include chairs, tables, cocktail tables, both portable and DJ quality sound systems, staff on-site throughout your reservation, covered outdoor areas, as well as string lights to light up a choice of areas. Rentals include Friday night set-up from 6:00pm to 10:00pm (rehearsal dinners are more than welcome), Saturday access from 9am to midnight, and Sunday access between 10am and 4pm for clean-up and maybe a little brunch and gift opening.

One of the most important things is your peace of mind. As an essential childcare center, ALNC follows a heightened level of safety guidelines, from cleaning to room capacities, and we’ll be more than happy to work with you to plan a safe and memorable weekend. We like to say our staff is included in your rental, and you can always reach out with any questions up until the last guest leaves. For added flexibility, our grounds are fully capable of hosting an all outdoor event.

During the pandemic, your local businesses have been affected as well. To help celebrate our roots, we are working closely with our Community Caterers to offer local, seasonal food that supports our Dane County family. We are encouraging couples to use Community Caterers for Rooted Weddings. Don’t worry about specific tastes or budgets; there are a huge variety of styles to choose from. We will gladly connect you with these local chefs and invite you to try their flavors by dining or carrying out with them.

In our commitment to sustainability and supporting our neighboring community, we are also encouraging couples to use only locally crafted beers, ciders, wines and spirits. All of these local crafters also have tasting options you can explore during your engagement.

Your wedding should celebrate your unique love and our unique community. Feel free to reach out to Ben at rentals@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org with any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$5,675

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$4,175

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$5,675

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$4,175

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
Event Planning
Glassware
Lighting/Sound
Parking
Set Up
Tables

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4

Describe your venue:

Campsite/Cabin
Garden
Park

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What event items are available?

Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Lighting
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

June
July
August
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
May
November
December
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38 Reviews

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Rated
4.9
out of 5.0
Recommended by 97% of couples
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.8 out of 5 rating

51 User photos

  • Sam
    Sam P. Married on 10/22/2022
    5 out of 5 rating
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    Amazing venue with helpful people

    We had a phenomenal wedding at Aldo Leopold Nature Center!! The space and grounds were beautiful, perfect for our fall wedding. Getting the entire weekend for setup on Friday, event on Saturday, cleanup on Sunday meant we had plenty of time to work with and felt very little rush and stress during the big weekend. The staff were also amazing, from the initial planning stages to walking us through what the weekend will look like, what we have access too, and when. We had an awesome time!
  • Emma
    Emma W. Married on 10/01/2022
    5 out of 5 rating
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    The Perfect Outdoor Venue

    We had our wedding at Aldo Leopold Nature Center, and it was more than we ever could have imagined. We love nature and love supporting youth in the outdoors - the prairie and building were absolutely beautiful and the perfect setting for our outdoor wedding.

    We’re so honored to have been married here and so thankful to those who helped make it happen. We want to give special thanks to Ben & Duncan. We had no idea how to plan a wedding, nor any comprehension of how stressful it would end up being. No matter how chaotic and overwhelmed we felt, they were both there with us through every step of the process. Over hundreds of emails, phone calls and in-person visits, your patience and kindness eased every question and doubt we had throughout the planning and event. Without you both, our wedding day would never have been possible.

    Thank you for making our wedding day one of the most cherished days of our lives. Aldo Leopold will forever have a special place in our hearts.
  • Eliza
    Eliza Married on 09/10/2022
    5 out of 5 rating
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    The Perfect Venue

    ALNC was the perfect reception venue. Ben, the events manager, and his team were experienced and helpful. They went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. We received multiple compliments from our guests on the venue space, and one how perfect the weekend went, often hearing how it was "the smoothest wedding we've ever been to."

    There were many reasons we went with ALNC. The flexibility to chose our own caterers, the access to the rental Friday evening- Sunday afternoon, the indoor/outdoor spaces, the affordability, and the fact that our money would support their environmental education programs. It really was the perfect facility for us.

    Because I'm from out of state with many guest traveling, it was important to me that every guest also be invited to the rehearsal dinner. That put our dinner size at 100 people. We decided to host it at ALNC. This made it so we had two major events there in two days. But they didn't flinch. Ben and his staff setup all the tables and chairs for us before we arrived Friday evening, and helped clean everything up at the end of the meal. We then decorated everything for the next day that same night, with Ben there helping to keep things organized.

    In the weeks leading up to our wedding, Ben contacted all of our different vendors to give them any information they needed. Even giving them facility walkthroughs if they wanted them. He took a lot of the stress out of facilitating.

    Day of, Ben organized all the vendors (bartenders, food, DJ) and gave them all of the tools they needed to get to work. We arrived from our ceremony into a space filled with music, flowers, and food.

    On Sunday, my husband and I went back to ALNC to help clean up, only to find that everything had been done for us. They even collected all of our decor and extra alcohol and put it in a cart by the door so it was easier to load into our car.

    On top of the stellar organization, ALNC is also gorgeous. We had guest walking the trails during cocktail hour, enjoying the flowers. There were kids at the wedding who loved looking for frogs in the pond. We had yard games that kept people entertained until dinner. And when it rained later in the night, the covered porch kept everyone dry and allowed for a space away from the music for people to connect. You won't regret booking ALNC.
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Awards

38
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner

Map

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330 Femrite Drive Madison, WI, 53716
6082169376
Location of (Aldo Leopold Nature Center)

Aldo Leopold Nature Center frequently asked questions

Aldo Leopold Nature Center includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Event Planning
  • Glassware
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The space offered by Aldo Leopold Nature Center for wedding events is known for:
  • Campsite/Cabin
  • Garden
  • Park
Aldo Leopold Nature Center offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Aldo Leopold Nature Center offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Aldo Leopold Nature Center offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
Aldo Leopold Nature Center offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Altar/Arch
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Aldo Leopold Nature Center is recommended by 97% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.9 in value, 4.8 in average response time and 4.8 in flexibility.

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